Illuminated television receiver



Sept. 3, 1957 L. M. ZEDRIC, JR 2,805,324

ILLUMINATED TELEVISION RECEIVER Filed Nov. 27, 1953 56 I ,[au 2's M.Zed7-z'c, (/71 United States Patent G Fice Patented Sept. 3, 1957 ILLUMINATED TELEVISION RECEIVER Louis M. Zedric, Jr., Canton, Ill.

Application November 27, 1953, Serial No. 394,715

4 Claims. (Cl. 2404) My invention relates to a lamp for attachment to a television set.

When television was first introduced, it was noted that considerable eye strain resulted from watching the set in darkened rooms. It was found that a small amount of light exterior to the picture was desirable and effective in minimizing the strain. One object of my invention therefore is to provide a light which may be attached to a television set in order to provide this exterior illumination.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a lamp which may be readily secured to a television set, which is inconspicuous, which may be folded out of sight when not in use and which may furthermore be used to inspect the interior of the television cabinet and to work on the television chassis. Although the lamp of my invention is intended primarily for television sets, it will find application also in radio sets and the like where supplemental illumination may be desired for the room, or more particularly with radio and phonograph enthusiasts who will have considerable use for the working light supplied to the interior of the cabinet thereby.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings of which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a television cabinet having a lamp embodying my invention mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the lamp of Fig. 1 which may be regarded as being taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of my lamp which may be regarded as being viewed along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the lamp in its recessed position; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the lamp in another orientation.

The illustrated lamp embodying my invention comprises a longitudinally elongated reflector 16 having a curved outer reflecting shell 12 and a flat base 14 providing a lower reflecting surface. The base 14 has mounted at one end thereof a socket 16 for preferably a Lumiline or linear type low intensity incandescent bulb 18. The socket is supported on the base 14 by a metal band 20 extending substantially thereahout to constitute a clamp for the socket, and which is secured at its ends 22 to support the socket 16 somewhat away from the base 14. The outer edges of both the base 14 and the shell 12 may have snap tabs 24 formed thereon to support and engage a translucent cover 26 of glass or plastic. The base 14 has a hole therein adjacent the mounting of the lamp socket 16 for the cord 28 thereof to extend out of the lamp and be connected to a switch on the face of the television cabinet and to the power inlet of the television set (not shown).

Centrally of the base 14, one end of an arm 30 is secured transversely by bolts 32, washers 34 interposed between the arm 30 and base 14 serving to space the arm slightly away therefrom. The other end of the arm has a relatively large diameter hole 36 formed therein under the base and adjacent the open end of the reflector. A tubular post 38 has one end 40 of reduced diameter and this end is passed through the hole 36 and headed over to fix the post rotatably to the arm 30. The other end 42 of the post is preferably flattened and drilled to receive a bolt 44. The final component of the illustrated lamp is a foot 46 consisting of a metallic strip having holes 48 bored therein adjacent one end for securing the lamp to the television cabinet. The other end 50 is bent at right angles to the body of the foot and bored to receive the bolt 44. It will be thus seen that the reflector 10 is mounted to swivel on the post 38 and the post in turn is mounted pivotally to the foot 46. V

In use, the foot is preferably secured to the rear surface 52 of the top panel 54 of the television cabinet, the foot being horizontally oriented. The rear panels 56 of television sets are usually formed to have a substantial opening 58 therein adjacent the top to provide for ventilation of the television chassis and if such opening is not provided in the set, the rear panel 56 may easily be cut out to provide such opening.

The normal operating position of the lamp is illustrated in Fig. 2 where, it will be seen, the light from the bulb 18, suitably diffused by the cover 26 is cast forward and downward somewhat at the top of the television cabinet. The difiused light is, in itself, effective in providing the necessary eye relief, and the further diflusion thereof from the direction of much of the light at the top of the television cabinet rather than directly into the eyes of the viewer further scatters the light and reduces the apparent intensity from the lamp itself. I have found that the lamp serves very efiectively in avoiding eye strain above discussed. Should, however, the direct view of the lamp be objectionable, the lamp may be raised only halfway to cast its light upward on a wall while remaining concealed behind the television cabinet.

The design of my lamp is simple and cleanlined and hence does not detract from the appearance of the television set even if left in the position of Fig. 2 when the set is not in operation. However, there may be instances where it is desirable that the lamp be folded down into the position illustrated in Fig. 4. Such circumstances may arise when the television set is pulled out away from a wall for the purposes of ventilation when in use, but when not in use is pushed back against the wall. As will be seen in Fig. 4, the lamp in its recessed position protrudes barely more than the outturned end 50 of the foot 46. Furthermore, the lamp in its retracted position is materially less subject to injury, being enclosed almost wholly within the television housing, a very substantial piece of furniture. This, of course, is of great advantage when packing for shipment. Finally, there may be some users who Wish to fold down the lamp for purely esthetic reasons.

The other function of my lamp is illustrated in Fig. 5 and this is a function which particularly relates to television. By virtue of the swiveling connection of the reflector to the post 38, the reflector may be turned through and pivoted downward on the foot in order to light the interior of the television cabinet. The television receivers of my experience rarely include all the necessary controls on the face thereof. A large number of such controls are situated on the back of the chassis and are accessible only through the rear of the cabinet. A television set is a heavy object and is usually connected rather closely to a wall by means of the power plug and antenna connections so that both for reasons of weight and for these rather close couplings, it is difficult to move the set very far away from a wall. Under such circumstances, the normal room lighting is of very little assistance in determining which of these rear mounted controls is to be turnedto improve reception. The lamp ofmy invention provides a complete answer to this dif" ficulty.

In the claims following, the connection of the post 38 to the foot 46 shall be referred to as a pivot connection, a connection permitting arcuate movement of. the post with respect to the foot. The connection of the other end 40 of the post to the reflector 10 (or arm 36) is termed a swivel joint and permits unlimited rotary movement on the post, but no arcuate change in position with respect to the post. i

It will be appreciated that manyvariances are possible in they structure and configuration of the components of the illustrated lamp. -Also, as mentioned above, the lamp is not restricted to television employment since the interior illumination can be of value in the case of radios and the like as mentioned above, although it will probably find its primary utility in connection Withtelevision receivers. Therefore, my invention is not to be regarded as being limited except as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lamp for attachment to the top rear edge of a television receiver cabinet comprising a reflector having a socket therein, an arm secured to said reflector and ex tending toward the open face thereof, a tubular post having one flattened end, the end of said arm adjacent said open face of the reflector being secured to the other end surface of said post toswivel thereon, a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to said edge of the television receiver having an outstanding vertical ear extending therefrom and means connecting said flattened end of said post to said ear for pivotal movement.

2. In combination, a televisionreceiver including a cabinet having a top panel and a rear panel, said rear panel having an opening therein immediately under said top panel, and a television lamp comprising a foot secured to the top rear edge of said top panel, a post pivotally secured at one end to said foot to permit the other end to be moved to extend above or below said edge, and a lamp housing including a reflector secured adjacent the open face of said reflector to the other end of said post to swivel thereon, said opening being proportioned to receive said reflector.

3. In combination, a television receiver including a cabinet having a top panel, and a television lamp comprising a foot secured to the rear edge of said top panel, said foot having an outstanding vertical ear, a tubular post having one flattened end, means securing said flattened end to said ear for pivotal movement, and a reflector having a light socket therein secured adjacent. the open face thereof to the opposite end surface of said post for swiveling movernent.

4. In combination, a television receiver including a television chassis anda-cabinet therefor, said cabinet having a top panel, and a television lamp comprisinga foot secured to the rear edge of said top panel, a post pivotally secured at one end to saidrfoot to be movable to extend above or below said edge, and a lamp housing including a reflector secured to swivel on the other end of said post to direct light forward when said other end of said post is in either of said positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,148,787 Thomas Feb. 28, 1939. 2,151,259 Young Mar. 21, 1939 2,215,635 Collins Sept. 24, 1940 2,298,870 Cooper, Oct. 13, 1942 2,317,619 Kramer Apr. 27, 1943 2,406,029 Nettesheim Aug. 20, 1946 2,559,224 Quidor July 3, 1951 2,669,768 DuMont Feb. 16, 1954 2,699,492 Cookenboo Jan. 11, 1955 

